PRESS NOTICE
Embargoed until 10.00 am
1 February 2010

Appointment of a County Court Judge in Northern Ireland

Her Majesty the Queen has appointed Patricia Mary Smyth to be a County Court judge in Northern Ireland. The judge was sworn into office before Sir Declan Morgan, the Lord Chief Justice of Northern Ireland, on 1 February 2010.

Note to editors

Mrs Smyth studied at Queen’s University, Belfast and was called to the Bar in September 1986.

Mrs Smyth practised as a barrister between 1986 and 2002. She practised in a wide variety of areas within the legal profession such as criminal law, civil law and employment law.

In 1998 she was appointed fee paid chairman of the Industrial Tribunals and Fair Employment Tribunal. In 2002 she was appointed salaried chairman of the Industrial Tribunals and Fair Employment Tribunal and in 2007 she was appointed Vice President of the Industrial Tribunals and Fair Employment Tribunal.

If you have any further queries about this or other court related matters please contact:
Patricia Quinn
Press Officer
Communications Group
Northern Ireland Court Service
Laganside House
23-27 Oxford Street
Belfast, BT1 3LA
Tel: 028 90412387
Mob: 07789 938 457
Email: pressteam@courtsni.gov.uk